Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-10
NEW YORK CHARACTERS.
Persons and Things Observed IN the
Great City by Cummings and Hail.

49,
Great City by Cummings and Hall.
An Ex-oPTUM SLAVES sTORT-HoW he EAAScIPATED
HIMSELF WITH TIE AID OF BEFR-SEw YoRK's
FAMOUS DISERs-oCT-wHY LARRY JEROME AND TON
ocHILTREE ARE IN DEMAND
special Correspondence of The EVENING STAR
NEW YORK, Sept 9.
There are drug stores on lower Broadway which
10 a big business, and especially with weary Or
debilitated men who call at late hours to get some
thing TO buoy them up. A physician is regularly
employed In them to prescribe for people. The
places are open every hour OF the year. One even
ing several weeks ago a young man, apparently
about thirty years old, visited OF these stores
cautiously approached the prescription counter
and called for ten cents worth OF gum opium. He
short and OF full habit, but his placid face and
Trembling limbs Indicated that he was far from
healthy The clerk refused to sell him the drug.
The young man took silver box from his pocket,
opened IL and showed the clerk lump OF brown
stun about as large as a chestnut. 1t was gum
opium You see am used TO taking 1t" said the
young man, "but am pretty near out of it, and
must have some more" The clerk still declined
10 sell the desired article, saying: "You have
enough there to Kill three men. Throw 1t away
and stop taking it."
I'D give worlds II could said he young man
as ne arose and YEARLY walked out OF the store.
His eyes were CLASSY and he walked like one In a
cream The days and weeks went by and the
young man, emaciated and weak, but with clear
eyes, entered the same drug store and, recogniz-
Ing the clerk who had refused to sell him opium
ne shook hands with him and said: II thank you
Tor doing me the greatest kindness OF a lifetime
when you declined TO sell me any more OF the drug
went home and resolved 10 stop taking 1t. had
been slave 10 IL for ten years 1t was good
resolve but 1t took nerve TO carry it out"
Tel me your experience" said the clerk, as ne
TOOK seat beside the young man. The latter,
who kept nervously moving his hands and feet as
ne talked recfted his story OF his struggle as rol-
lows: II have read De Quincy's confessions OF an
opium Eater" but never perused the history OF
case like mine. Ten years ago suffered severe
attack OF sickness. When became convaleScent
j was In such a condition that my family physician
buoy me up. None of them seemed TO DO me any
good. Finally he prescribed what proved 10 De a
brow nSh, bitter solution. IL afforded me instant
relief Before the medicine was gone was called
TO Chicago on business. / asked the doctor TO
give me a prescription for the medicine 10 take
West with me, but he refused TO do so.
THE OPIUM EATERS STORY.
II was surprised but Indignantly left him and
took what remained OF the medicine with me to
Chicago. Once there / went to q drugstore,
showed the druggist the contents OF the bottle,
the medicine and put me up some more OF 1t. He
sInelled and tasted OF IL and asked me how long
i told him, and then he said: You evidently do
not know what you have been taking. The main
cae Win or the terrible habit ~ aakinS t I
drug II the druggist had felled me with a club
would not have been more surprised. went home
and resolved TO do without the medicine. All the
ymptoms Of the disease which 1t had been given
correct returned, and suffered the fortunes of
ne damned. Iyawned constantly and was una
lie 10 sleep. Finally went to another druggist,
old him my condition, and begged him to sell me
some opium He did so. took IL, and once more
dose until the effects OF IT made my feel If
they were about TO burst. For five years / made
that my ply sician had put about my neck. 1 slept
sparingly in feveriSh hts, and ate heartily, but
grew more weak every day. / never shall be able
To describe the awful dreams that haunted
me during the night The Authorization got
place In my mind shat the habit TO which was a
victim was great snake co1led about my body
that the head OF the monster was darling back
and forth before my face and awake With a
scream. The drug began TO tell On the action of
the heart until felt sense Of compression about
the chest could not relieve myself OF the idea
OF the snake. One night awoke from my horrid
dream 10 find myself apparently dying. My heart
was beating at terrific rate cold sweat stood out
took great dose or the drug, but was unable TO
retain II. was like dismantled and rudderlesS
ship at sea in a gale. called doctor, gave him
the history OF my case and begged him TO relieve
me. He gave me some acOnite Tor my heart and
some big yaerian pills for my nerves. They had
not the slightest eject on me. My heart beat
Easter and faster. The big snake was tightening
its embrace. Finally the doctor barred my arm
IL brought relief. and in week / was able TO
feebiy walk about, but was Obliged TO increase
my allow rance OF opium 10 keep body and soul to-
gether.
AN AWFUL EXISTENCE.
'SThen my case assumed new phase. One night
j awOke from my fearful dream about the snake
with huttertng OF the heart. The organ palpi-
tated at intervals OF five minutes and 1 sent for
the doctor. He told me that must cease taking
the drug or die. He gave me bromide OF potassium
10 quiet my nerves, but 1t had no effect beyond
making me feel as If was going mad. / slyly re-
turned 10 the use OF the drug kept the sivaf box
containing IL at my bedside. One night awoke
and reached for the box The nurse had taken 1t
away. No one was awake in the house. Instantly
my heart began 10 beat violently and was all of
tremble. felt as II should smother The snake
had frightened Its folds once more and death seemed
imminent The shlpwrecked man on a raft at sea
without food or water does not experience more
agony than did when found myself without the
drug called loudly for help. the nurse came, and
j begged him TO get me the opium. He had thrown
IL away No drug store was open at that hour OF
the night, and, last resort searched my pOck-
cts for crumO OF the drug. found morsel took
IL greedily, and managed TO exist until morning.
when the attendant got me some OF the stun from
drug store. 1 rallied and eked out an existence
for three or four years. but II was an awful ex1s
tence. had tried TO keep secret the fact of my
heard of IL, for circulars advertising cures for the
opium habit came pouring In on me from all over
the country.
HOW HE BROKE THE SPELL
AT length determined 70 emancipate myself.
My physician said It was impossible; had been
too long in the embrace OF the snake He said that
II would kill me TO break OF at once. 1 came In
here TO buy some more OF the drug but you refused
10 sell II TO me. Then / went home determined TO
cease taking II. i believe no mortal ever suffered
rs did after making that resolve. Iyawned the
tear ducts were opened until my eyes swan, and
sleep Was out OF the question My heart palpita-
Ted Until 1t seemed about 70 burst My appetite
which had been 80 strong while was q victim Of
The haoit was entirely gone, and all the world was
clouded 70 me- The Only consolation had was the
sensation that the snake had looSened its coil The
nerve tOnicS that took seemed 10 make me hover
on the confines OF Insanity At last after weeks
OF agony and SleepleSSneSS little relief came /
was able 10 dOZe naf hour time and eat lit
tie Ny heart ceased TO beat quite RAPIDLY as IL had
done. one nighI, during ntful sleep dreamed
that the big snake, which had been about my
body for decade, dropped to the floor raised It's
awful head and gildeC out of the room / awoke
with sensation OF terrible physical exhaustion
about 10 STOP opened bottle OF beer with a
trembling hand and drank two glasses OF IT, Ny
b. heart began 10 beat stronger and dropped into
calm sleep for two hours From that time on beer
became my constant stlmulant- The hops in the
liquor have a soothing effect and there Is nothing
Ike IL Tor one breaking OF from the opium. Two
weeks have elapsed and now am free The very
thought OF the drug makes he sick. once /
dreamed that had returned 10 its use. The door
oi my room was aJar and dreamed OF taking the
nrst mOrsel OF the stun. i saw that awful snake
thrust mis- mead into the apartment and prepare
% spring upon NE and again coil about my body
awOAe with scream, and II i had been at all
tempted 10 return 10 the habit that vision would
have stopped me-" AMOS j. CUMMINGS.
LARRY JEROaES GREAT NAME.
Larry jerome Is not eminent In politics or finance